Anal speculum



(No Model.) 4

' A. SHUFORD.

. ANAL SPBGULUM.'

Patented Mar. 25,

N. Pneus. Phewmmgmpm. wn-hangw". n, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

QUINCY ADAMS SHUFORD, OF TYLER, TEXAS.

ANAL SPECULUM.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,140, dated March25, 1890.

Application filed Iannary 23,1890. Serial-No. 337,869. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, QUINCY ADAMS SHU- FORD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Tyler, in the county of Smith and State of Texas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anal Speculums; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

. and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to anal speculums; and it consists in theconstruction and novel arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out inthe appended claims.

The objects of my invention are, iirst, to so construct the severalparts that there will be no rough or raised edges to interfere with itsinsertion in the anal passage; secondly, to so construct my improvedspeculum that it may be readily used as a bi-valve or dilator; thirdly,to form a locking-joint on the meeting edges of the shells forming thespeculum, whereby the sections are prevented from overlapping` eachother to avoid pinching or injury to the Vwalls of the anal passageVwhile the instrument is being inserted; fourthly, to provide a plug formy improved speculum, whereby the contour of the outer surface of thespeculum is maintained.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top view of my improved speculum; Fig. 2,a top "view showing the instrument as a loi-valve or dilator; Fig. 3, aside viewof my improved speculum; Fig. 4f, a detail view of the plug;Fig. a transverse section on the line x x of Fig. 2; Fig. 6,a transversesection of a slight modification of my improved speculum.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures, l and 2 designate taperingsemi-cylindrical shells out away on their upper edges for abouttwo-thirds of their length to form an elongated fenestra 3, terminatingat its outer end in an elliptical form somewhat wider than the fenestra.At the bases of the shells are formed flangesll and 5, which, whileserving as a strengthening-brace to hold the shells, which arc`constructed of thin metal, to their proper curve, serves also as aguard or shield to prevent the hair from interfering with the operator.

6 indicates a handle U-shaped in form, the legs '7 of which are madeintegral with or secured in any desired manner to the flanges. Thishandle, which is constructed of material having considerable spring,serves to hold the shells, as shown in Fig. l.

In order that my speculum may be readily used as a bi-valve or dilater,I employ a thumbscrew S, which passes through a threaded opening in alug 9 on one leg of the handle and has its opposite end reduced indiameter,

and passes through an opening l() in alug ll on the opposite leg of Ithehandle.

As my improved speculum is made in two sections, and as there would beliability of the edges of the shells lapping one another and injuring orpinching the walls of the anal passage during its insertion, I formalock on the .meeting edges of the shells, as follows: At the junctionof the iiange 4 with the shell l, at the top and bottom thereof, dowelsl2 and 13 are placed, designed to enter suitable registering openings lain the flange 5.

To allow the speculum to be painlessly inserted in the anal passage, theapices of the shells l and 2 are given a slight curve upward, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3.

In order that the fenestra may be closed and a uniformexterior surfacebe presented to my speculum, I'employ a tapering plug l5 of the contourof the interior of the speculum, the forward end of which is chamferedoif to correspond with the elliptical opening at the end of Athefenestra. The plug is provided with a suitable handle l6,by means ofwhich it may be readily withdrawn from the speculum when the latter hasbeen inserted in the anal passage. The meeting edges of the shells areslightly rounded, as well asthe edges of the fenestra and ellipticalopening, whereby all danger of cutting the walls of the anal passage isovercome.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a transverse section of a modified form ofconstructing the lock, which is as follows: The edges of the shells fromthe fenestra to the flanges are made a little thicker, and on one shellis formed a IOO tongue designed to enter a the opposite shell.

The operation of my improved specnlum, which can be readily used as abi-valve or dilater, taken in connection with above description,will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art.

Harin thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

l. The tapering' senii-cylindrical shells cut away at their upper edgesto form a fenestra, the forward part of which is elliptical in shape,and provided at their base with a flange and connected by a U -shapedhandle, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the tapering semicylindrical shells eut away attheir upper edges to forni a fenestra, and provided at their base with aflange united bya U-shapedhangroove formed in dle,of a lock formed onthe meeting edges of the shells, substantially as described.

3.- In a combined spcculum and bi-valvc or dilater, the combination,with the tapering semi-cylindrical shells cutaway attheir upper edges toforni a fencstra, el. a lock formed on the meetingl edges of the shells,said shells having their apices bent upward and provided at their basewith a iiauge and united by a U-shaped handle, the thumb-screw passing`through a threaded opening in a lug formed on one leg of the handle andhavinga bearing' in a perforated lug on the opposite leg of the handle,substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof I aiiixmysignaturein 35 presence of two Witnesses.

QUINCY ADAMS SIIUFORD, Witnesses:

L. M. II. WALKER, N. C. HARRIS..

